NCCK Chairman blasts Government’s 'empty' corruption fight as health fraud surfaces

The chairman of the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK), Rev. Dr. Elias Otieno Agola, has challenged the government to move beyond rhetoric in tackling corruption, warning that the fight has often been symbolic rather than effective.

Speaking during an interview on Radio Generation, Otieno said that despite the creation of institutions and repeated confessions about corruption, little concrete action has been taken.

“I know that corruption has been talked about, has been handled, institutions created and so many things have gone into the identification of corruption; many charters have been written. If you go to offices, you see all that and the fight continues,” he said on Tuesday.

Otieno noted that even top officials have admitted the massive scale of corruption, which he said drains more money than the government collects in taxes.

The Chairman criticized anti-corruption bodies for failing to act decisively against those implicated.

“You cannot show us papers just for news… after that, it dies. It dies, whether it was taken to court or not,” he said, emphasizing that the fight against corruption requires genuine intent and accountability, not empty statements.

He also warned that anti-corruption efforts are often weakened from within.

“They cannot shame them. They cannot take them to book. They cannot do anything. They are the ones who corrupt the files,” Otieno said, highlighting internal sabotage in enforcement agencies.

The chairman’s comments came in the wake of a major development in the healthcare sector.

On Monday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) announced it had received 1,188 files from the Social Health Authority (SHA) and the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Council (KMPDC) detailing suspected healthcare fraud.

The files, which include individuals and healthcare facilities, are expected to guide investigations into malpractice and irregular activities.

The DCI has formed a multi-agency team to fast-track the review of the cases and ensure anyone implicated, regardless of their social or political standing, faces prosecution.

“In collaboration with all other law enforcement agencies, we are committed to recovering all assets and other resources acquired through fraudulent means. The public will be kept informed on the progress of the investigations through regular updates,” the agency said.

Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale confirmed that the files had been handed over, describing the step as a key milestone in addressing fraud in the sector.

“This action targets fraudulent and non-compliant healthcare facilities and individuals, marking a critical milestone in the ongoing effort to protect public funds and safeguard the integrity of Kenya’s healthcare system,” Duale said.

He added that the documents contain detailed evidence to support possible prosecutions.

The SHA has already suspended 85 healthcare facilities as investigations proceed. Duale warned that these fraudulent practices not only drain resources but also endanger patients, highlighting schemes by rogue providers exploiting the system.

Otieno said such developments underscore the need for anti-corruption efforts to move from paper to action.

“If you have makucha (if you have claws), let makucha come and so the fight against corruption… is supposed to be something that somebody means and somebody has intentions to fight,” he said, reiterating that meaningful action is what citizens expect.

Translation: If you have makucha (if you have claws)

Translation: Let Makucha come (show us the claws)

He further emphasized the importance of transparency in handling corruption files.

“Just saying it is one thing, but now doing it is another,” Otieno said, warning that public confidence depends on visible results, not mere announcements.

On the moral duty of leaders, the chairman added: “Corruption is not only stealing from the public; it is betraying trust. Leaders must act, not just talk.”